212 



ICHTHYOLOGY. 



JlaUop- 

 terygii 



Abdomi- 



nales. 



Salmo- 



nidae. 



the Coregonus Machenzii. The colour of the back and 

 sides changeable from bluish to greenish gray, according 

 as it is moved in the light. The belly bluish white ; the 

 scales sub-orbicular, four lines in diameter, and possess- 

 ing much pearly lustre. From the form of the body, the 

 size of the scales, the fineness of the teeth, and their 

 distribution, this fish evidently belongs to the genus Co- 

 regonus. It reaches a vceight of thirty or forty pounds. 

 The flesh is white but agreeable. It is found in Mac- 

 kenzie's River, and the lakes and streams which flow into 

 it ; also in Salt River, which, however, is its most south- 

 erly limit.' 



Genus Argentina, Linn. The mouth small, depress- 

 ed horizontally ; no teeth on the jaws, but with a small 

 tuft on the vomer, and having the tongue with teeth ra- 

 ther strong and hooked, as in the trouts. Six rays to 

 the branchial membranes. The internal structure as in 

 the trouts. The genus is composed of a single species, 

 the 



Arg. sphyrcena, Linn. Found in the Mediterranean 

 sea, and remarkable for the thickened coats of the swim- 

 ming bladder, which, as well as the scales, is plentifully 

 charged with that silvery secretion used in the manufac- 

 ture of " I'esseiwe d'orient," an article employed in the 

 formation and lustre of false pearls. For this purpose 

 the species is fished in great numbers along the coast of 

 Tuscany. It is a small fish, scarcely exceeding four or 

 five inches in length, of delicate tints,' — the integuments 

 being transparent, and giving a clear brilliancy to the co- 

 lours. The upper parts are grayish, the sides and lower 

 surface of a brilliant silvery lustre. 



Following this fish, Cuvier adopts the genus Chara- 

 ciNus of Artedi, as a group to contain all the species of 

 the Linnsean Salniones, which have only four or five rays 

 to the branchial membrane, but as the form, toothing, 

 &c. vary in most of these fishes, he has thought it neces- 

 sary to subdivide them into subordinate genera. It is 

 remarkable that many of them have the caecal or pancre- 

 atic appendages, and at the same time the narrowing or 

 girth of the air-bladder, which is seen in many of the Cy- 

 prini. The first subdivision is 



Genus Curimata, Cuv. In form the species resemble 

 Thymallus. The teeth are, however, variable, and the 

 divisions of this group may yet require examination. The 

 number of branchial rays not exceeding five, must be 

 remembered ; some of the species, with the exception of 

 that distinction, approaching very nearly to the genus 

 just named. They inhabit the rivers of South America. 

 As an example may be noted a new species, the Curi- 

 mata Gilbert of Quoy and Gaimard. This fish some- 

 what resembles a small Cyprinus, but is distinguished, 

 even on a superficial view, by the presence of the adi- 

 pose fin. The scales are rather large in proportion ; the 

 upper parts are bluish gray, changing into silvery; the 

 fins yellowish ; the body appears spotted, or rather blotch- 

 ed, with indistinct dark markings, conspicuous only when 

 placed in particular lights. This species was discover- 

 ed in the fresh waters of Brazil, near the river Macaca, 

 and appeared to prefer those |)laces which were of a marshy 

 character. 



Genus Anastomus, Cuv. Characterised by combining 

 with the form of the graylings a mouth cleft somewhat 

 vertically, and furnished with fine teeth. It contains a 

 single species, a native (it is said) both of South America 

 and India, the Salmo anastomus, Linn. Is it not likely 

 that two species are confounded here ? 



Genus Gasteropelecus, Bloch. With the mouth 



placed vertically as in the last, but with the belly com- Malacop. 

 pressed. The ventral fins very small, and placed far back, tervpii 

 The first dorsal fin placed above the anal, which is very Abdomi. 

 long. Conical teeth in the upper jaw, in the lower sharp <,"| ^'' 

 and cutting. "^■^^°; 



Gast. sternicla, Bloch, is a very small species, scarce- v«»-^-«i^ 

 ly two inches in length, which inhabits the waters of Su- 

 rinam. Its form is very much compressed, and sharply ca- 

 rinated beneath ; above bluish gray; beneath silvery." The 

 fins gray, ventrals extremely minute, the anal extending 

 nearly from them to the tail ; the tail much forked.' 



Genus PiABucus, Margrave? Characterised by a length- 

 ened form ; a small head, with the mouth deeply cleft 

 and armed with strong teeth. The body compressed ; the 

 belly carinated, but smooth ; the anal fin much extended. 

 The species inhabit the rivers of South America, and are 

 carnivorous and voracious. 



P. binmculatus. About four inches in length by about 

 two in breadth. Above brownish, lower parts silvery ; 

 fins jiale yellow ; on each side of the body beyond the 

 gills an oval spot of black, with a similar one at the base of 

 the tail. Inhabits the rivers of Surinam, and is esteemed 

 as food.'' 



Genus Serrasalmus, Lacepede. The body compress- 

 ed ; the belly carinated, and toothed or serrated on its 

 lower margin ; the teeth triangular and cutting ; some 

 species with a concealed spine before the first dorsal fin. 



Ser. rhomhoides, Bloch. Above of a dusky red, mark- 

 ed with a few small scattered dusky spots ; sides and belly 

 silvery, the latter strongly carinated and serrated by a se- 

 ries of aculeated processes. The fins yellowish ; tail ter- 

 mniated by a black border. Found in the rivers of Suri- 

 nam, where it reaches a considerable size ; feeds on fish 

 and waterfowl ! Two other species, G. aureus and nigri- 

 cans, are figured in the work of Spix. 



Genus Tetragonopterus. This group was formed by 

 Artedi, and after being thrown out by Ichthyologists, was 

 re-established by Cuvier as a sub-genus. The form con- 

 tinues compressed, the anal fin much extended, and the 

 teeth sharp and cutting ; but there are two rows of teeth 

 on the upper jaw, and the belly is neither carinated nor 

 serrated, as in the preceding. 



Genus Chalceus, Cuvier. Characterised by the same 

 form of the mouth, and the same cutting teeth, as the pre- 

 ceding fishes ; but the body is of an oblong form, and nei- 

 ther carinated nor serrated beneath. The maxillary bones 

 have three small round teeth. Inhabit South America. 

 The species are C. macrolepidotus, Cuv., and C. angulu- 

 tus. Spix. 



Genus Myletes, Cuvier. Characterised by the singu- 

 lar form of the teeth, in the shape of a triangular prism, 

 short, rounded at the corners, and with the upper surface 

 so hollowed by mastication, that the three angles form 

 three projecting points. The mouth small, with two rows 

 of teeth on the inter-maxillary bones. None on the max- 

 illaries. The under jaw with a single row of teeth. The 

 form elevated ; a spine before the vertical fins. The belly 

 carinated and serrated. Inhabit America and Africa. 

 Some of the species attain to a large size, and have the flesh 

 well flavoured. 



M. Uasselquistii, Cuv., Salmo dcntex, Hasselquist, is 

 found in the Nile. It is a fish of a lengthened form, w ith 

 the dorsal fin occupying the position which corresponds 

 to the space between the ventral and anal fins. The teeth 

 are very strong. The colours above are brownish, with 

 three or four indistinct longitudinal lines upon the sides ; 

 the under parts silvery.^ M.paco is an American species. 



Kichardson in the Appendix to Franklin's Journey to the Polar Sea, p. 707. 

 Schneider. » Shaw. ■* Schneider, Shaw. 



* Schneider. 



